Agitator



Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES -ATENT OFFICE AGITATOR Walter K. Voss, Davenport, Iowa Application May 25, 1936, Serial No. 81,570 1 Claim. (01. 259-101) The invention relates generally to washing meansand more particularly to a washing machine agitator which is adapted to operate by reason of its buoyancy in the upper portion of 5- the washing liquid.

The general object of the invention is to provide a buoyant agitator in which the buoyant portion is made of such material that it will withstand misuse without danger of losing its buoylo ancy through leakage, absorption or other reasons, the material being relatively inexpensive and simple to embody in, an agitator.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an agitator having agitating blades, a frame 15 structure of metal and a buoyant portion made of a cellular material such as cork or sponge rubber, having a specific gravity sufficiently less than water to render the agitator as a whole buoyant.

It is also an object to provide an agitator hav- 20 ing a buoyant portion made of a cellular material which is externally coated with a substance providing a seal to prevent moisture from entering the buoyant material.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- 5 parent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through a washing machine including an agitator embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the agitator illustrated in Fig. l and showing the parts of the agitator separated,

As mentioned above, the invention contem- 35 plates an agitator for a washing machine, the agitator being of the type which by its buoyancy is adapted to operate in the upper part of the washing fluid. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a buoyant member so pro- 40 portioned and of such specific gravity as to render the agitator as a whole buoyant. The buoyant member is made of a material of a cellular nature which is not subject to undue deterioration I through use and is not subject to loss of its buoy- 45 ancy through misuse such as would occur with a hollow, air-filled metallic containerin case it springs a leak. Preferably the buoyant material is coated with a substance serving to seal the cells therein, thereby preventing the absorption 50 of moisture.

In the drawing, a fragment of a washing machine is illustrated in Fig. 1, comprising a tub Ill adapted to contain a washing fluid normally extending to a level, for example, indicated by 55 the line A. Within the tub is the agitator, in-

dicated generally at ll, adapted to be oscillated about a vertical axis by a drive shaft l2 journalled in a post l3 secured within the tub to the tub bottom and having a head I l.

The agitator, being of the floating or buoyant 5 type, is adapted to operate in the upper part of the washing fluid, and in order that it may ac commodate itself to different levels of the washing fluid, it has a vertically slidable driving connection with the drive shaft head M. To this end, the agitator has a central hub l5 adapted to flt around the head [4, and a pair of inwardly extending ribs l6 adapted to slide in vertical grooves I! in the head to permit the agitator to move vertically but to cause it to be oscillated by 1 the drive shaft head.

In its preferred form, the agitator comprises a plurality of downwardly extending water-agitating blades preferably made integral with a metallic frame structure comprising a ring 2!. Extending inwardly from the ring 2i is a plurality of radial arms or spokes 22 preferably formed integrally with the inner edges of the blades 20 and the hub l5.

Associated with the frame structure is a buoy- 25 ant member 23 made, in the present instance, of a material having a specific gravity less than water. Preferably the buoyant member is made of cork which does not lose its buoyancy when subjected to hard usage. Thus, it is not subject to leakage from rough handling, or corrosion, as would be the case with a hollow air-filled metal float. A buoyant member of cork therefore is highly practical for use in washing machines which are usually operated and cared for by women not skilled in the proper care of mechanical contrivances. The cork member requires no attention or especial care during its use, and the manufacturer of the machine is thus relieved of one cause for servicing his machines after they pass into the hands of purchasers.

In the preferred form, the cork member 23 is in the form of a disk of substantial thickness and apertured at its center to fit snugly around the hub l5. The disk is of such diameter that it fits within the ring 2! of the frame structure and rests on the upper face of the radial arms 22 which are preferably made flat to provide a substantial bearing surface for the disk. To firmly secure the disk 23 in place, there is provided a clamping ring 24 overlying the ring 2| of the frame structure and removably secured thereto as by screws 25. The clamping ring 24 has an inwardly extending flange 26 which overlies the peripheral portion of the upper face ofthe cork disk and firmly clamps the cork in place. Since cork is somewhat compressible the disk need not be held to accurate dimensions. In case it is slightly oversize, it may be compressed to fit within the frame structure.

With an agitator of tlL's type, filling the tub with articles to be washed is facilitated if the agitator is removable so that it may be put in place after the clothes are in the tub. For this purpose, the agitator is provided with a handle by which it may be lifted, comprising a bail 21 attached to a pair of diametrically spaced ears 28 formed on the clamping ring 24.

To insure against moisture in appreciable quantities entering the cells of the cork, a coating of a sealing substance such as aluminum paint may be employed. Such a coating will prevent any material amount of water entering the cells of the cork when the agitator is in use and will also prevent absorption of moisture from the air. Use of the coating, however, is not essential since cork will not absorb sufficient water under ordinary circumstances to become water-logged.

The buoyant portion of the agitator may also be made of other cellular materials such as sponge rubber. With the latter material, the exterior may be sealed by dipping the mass of sponge rubber into a rubber compound to provide an exterior substantially waterproof coating.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that I have provided an agitator provided with a buoyant member of such character that it will not lose its buoyancy through misuse or lack of care. The buoyant member being made of cork or other cellular material is relatively inexpensive and since the material is somewhat compressible, it may be assembled into the frame structure of the agitator without exercising great care in obtaining a close or accurate fit of the parts. Thus, the agitator herein described has a highly practical construction from the point of view of the manufacturer as well as the user.

I claim as my invention:

An agitator of the buoyant type comprising a metal frame provided with water-agitating blades and means for connecting the agitator to a drive member, and a cork disk for rendering the agitator as a whole buoyant, said frame comprising a ring member fitting snugly around the periphery of the cork disk and having radial arms supporting one face of the disk, and a clamping ring secured to the ring member and fitting over the opposite face of the disk at the periphery thereof to clamp the disk firmly in place.

WALTER K. VOSS. 

